Nuclear Weapons

Sudan does not possess nuclear weapons, nor are there any indications that Sudan is attempting to acquire nuclear weapons. In addition, there are no nuclear facilities in Sudan. However, according to some reports, Iraq in the summer of 1991 transferred some nuclear material to Sudan for temporary storage. This program was said to have continued into mid 1992 with fissionable material, documents, and weapons' sub-systems being shipped via Jordan utilizing
Sudanese diplomatic mail privileges. For example, it is said that a truck carrying "furniture" from the Sudanese Embassy in Iraq to Khartoum in mid-January 1992 was actually loaded with barrels of uranium. Among the Iraqi material sent to Sudan were said to be approximately
27.5 pounds of 93% U-235 which had been originally supplied to Iraq by France for use in the French-built Osirak research reactor. However, it is claimed that the bulk of the nuclear materials was shipped forward to the Algerian reactor in Ain-Oussera -- a PRC-built reactor with military/weapons development capacity. Algeria is said to still be storing the
Iraqi nuclear equipment and radioactive materials.

In 2010, the Sudanese government announced its intentions to pursue a nuclear power program and requested assistance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Sudan’s program calls for a four reactor nuclear power plant by 2030 to address energy concerns. In late August 2010, a delegation from the IAEA met with Sudanese officials and recommended that Sudan obtain two research reactors. One research reactor would be for training nuclear technicians while the other would be put to use producing isotopes for medical, industrial, and agricultural purposes.

Sudan is a signatory to the Treaty of Pelindaba, which established a nuclear-weapon free zone on the African continent. However, as of December 2009, Sudan has yet to ratify the Treaty, although it has gone into effect. Sudan has also ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a non-nuclear weapon state.

Sources and Resources

THE IRAQI WMD CHALLENGE -- U.S. House of Representatives TASK FORCE ON TERRORISM &
UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE February 10, 1998 [CAVEAT: This source appears to include considerable material inspired by Israeli intelligence services, and consequently material produced by this Task Force has historically consisted of an uneven admixture of unusually detailed information and blatantly incredible fabrications.]